Molly Henning
January 25, 2008
English 101
Ms. Wendt
English as the Official Language of the United States?
For many years, there have been many different groups supporting different positions on whether or not English should be the only language allowed in the United States. This topic creates much controversy between groups, because of the many different cultures in the United States. The many different cultures in the U.S. are growing and becoming very prevalent. However, with this very rapidly growing culture in the United States, many new languages are being introduced, one of the main predominant languages being Spanish, after English. Many people believe that if English is made the only language of the United States that it will be a bias against all the many culture—however, on the other hand—many supporters of this movement state that English is already the most common language, therefore, it is only reasonable for an English-only Act.
The United States has always been profoundly known for being “the land of the free”, allowing the assimilation of many different immigrants, allowing their cultures, religious backgrounds, individual languages, etc. in the United States. This is what has created the “melting pot”, as the U.S. is known today. Some of the multiple languages spoken in the United States today, besides English, are Spanish, French, Chinese, etc. A statistical evidence of this is, according to Jim Smoot, in his blog article about English being the official language; there are 31 million people in the United States alone that speak Spanish. (Smoot) How can we expect 31 million people in the U.S. to simply stop speaking their native language, because Congress and other bodies of legislature state that is “against the law”. Also, another very important concept: the right to free speech is the first amendment in the United States constitution, written many years ago in 1776. Everyone that is legally in the United States is guaranteed all these rights, under the due process of law. The fact that there are supporters of the English-only movement marks a very significant oppression, though many people thought oppression against different cultural and racial groups were eliminated many, many years ago. Many people believe, as the debate is very heated in Congress at this point, and has been for a while, that making English the only language will reduce, or even eventually eliminate, the concept of the “melting pot” in the United States. This is a fear for many people involved. Limiting the cultural diffusion by making English the official language of the United States basically limits everything that the United States is known for, especially the prominent idea that the United States is the land of the free. People are not free if they are not allowed to speak their own language in a public place, they are limited and oppressed.
English has been the language of “upward mobility”, also according to Jim Smoot, which creates the reason that multiple groups believe that English should be the only language of the U.S. English is what all of our laws are written in, it is even the language of most television shows throughout the U.S. It is very hard, if not impossible, to function in this country, that, yes, has many cultures, without knowing at least some English. Also, multiple people believe that the English-only movement will greater improve a nation’s unity, by all speaking the same language. However, creating a nation’s unity does not mean eliminating multiple other cultures and having it against the law to speak any other language, except for English, in public places. It’s not fair, it’s unjust, and it is bias against everyone that does not primarily speak English. There are multiple reasons that could be justifiable that English-only movement is very strong and should be enforced, however, the drawbacks of this outweigh the benefits of having English be the only language of the United States.
There are multiple different sides to the argument of the English-only movement—some people believe that it would eliminate all the culture of the United States; however, some people believe that English is already the most predominant language, therefore, it makes sense to have it be the only language used. Yet, in the end, if this is enacted into law, it will create many rages of violence because of people being so upset about it, and it will simply create many problems. English truly is the language that is used; however, eliminating multiple cultures in the United States is bias and completely unethical for a country with such rich cultures to do.
having too much flabby tissue; corpulent; obese: a fat person.
2.
plump; well-fed: a good, fat chicken.
3.
consisting of or containing fat; greasy; oily: fat gravy; fat meat.
However, in today's modern society, fat can be labeled as so many different things, besides being plump. So many thin girls are being labeled as "fat", that the word "fat" has almost lost its meaning.
The word brute, in my opinion, means someone that has absolutely no feelings whatsoever. These lack of feelings include remorse, pain, upset, etc., and often causes the person to act out in ways that are not normal for society's standards. For example, in the story, the patient acts completely irrationally, having a fit of rage, that is unjustifiable by the fact that he was being held down, which is obviously upsetting, and more so, is very drunk. The patient is a brute, and is not simply acting like a brute, because he acted out without any reason or cause, without being a response to anything. Though the doctor did some things that could be considered "brute-like", the fact that they were simply responses to the behavior of the patient maeks the patient the stronger brute character.
January 25, 2008
English 101
Ms. Wendt
English as the Official Language of the United States?
For many years, there have been many different groups supporting different positions on whether or not English should be the only language allowed in the United States. This topic creates much controversy between groups, because of the many different cultures in the United States. The many different cultures in the U.S. are growing and becoming very prevalent. However, with this very rapidly growing culture in the United States, many new languages are being introduced, one of the main predominant languages being Spanish, after English. Many people believe that if English is made the only language of the United States that it will be a bias against all the many culture—however, on the other hand—many supporters of this movement state that English is already the most common language, therefore, it is only reasonable for an English-only Act.
The United States has always been profoundly known for being “the land of the free”, allowing the assimilation of many different immigrants, allowing their cultures, religious backgrounds, individual languages, etc. in the United States. This is what has created the “melting pot”, as the U.S. is known today. Some of the multiple languages spoken in the United States today, besides English, are Spanish, French, Chinese, etc. A statistical evidence of this is, according to Jim Smoot, in his blog article about English being the official language; there are 31 million people in the United States alone that speak Spanish. (Smoot) How can we expect 31 million people in the U.S. to simply stop speaking their native language, because Congress and other bodies of legislature state that is “against the law”. Also, another very important concept: the right to free speech is the first amendment in the United States constitution, written many years ago in 1776. Everyone that is legally in the United States is guaranteed all these rights, under the due process of law. The fact that there are supporters of the English-only movement marks a very significant oppression, though many people thought oppression against different cultural and racial groups were eliminated many, many years ago. Many people believe, as the debate is very heated in Congress at this point, and has been for a while, that making English the only language will reduce, or even eventually eliminate, the concept of the “melting pot” in the United States. This is a fear for many people involved. Limiting the cultural diffusion by making English the official language of the United States basically limits everything that the United States is known for, especially the prominent idea that the United States is the land of the free. People are not free if they are not allowed to speak their own language in a public place, they are limited and oppressed.
English has been the language of “upward mobility”, also according to Jim Smoot, which creates the reason that multiple groups believe that English should be the only language of the U.S. English is what all of our laws are written in, it is even the language of most television shows throughout the U.S. It is very hard, if not impossible, to function in this country, that, yes, has many cultures, without knowing at least some English. Also, multiple people believe that the English-only movement will greater improve a nation’s unity, by all speaking the same language. However, creating a nation’s unity does not mean eliminating multiple other cultures and having it against the law to speak any other language, except for English, in public places. It’s not fair, it’s unjust, and it is bias against everyone that does not primarily speak English. There are multiple reasons that could be justifiable that English-only movement is very strong and should be enforced, however, the drawbacks of this outweigh the benefits of having English be the only language of the United States.
There are multiple different sides to the argument of the English-only movement—some people believe that it would eliminate all the culture of the United States; however, some people believe that English is already the most predominant language, therefore, it makes sense to have it be the only language used. Yet, in the end, if this is enacted into law, it will create many rages of violence because of people being so upset about it, and it will simply create many problems. English truly is the language that is used; however, eliminating multiple cultures in the United States is bias and completely unethical for a country with such rich cultures to do.
fat
The word brute, in my opinion, means someone that has absolutely no feelings whatsoever. These lack of feelings include remorse, pain, upset, etc., and often causes the person to act out in ways that are not normal for society's standards. For example, in the story, the patient acts completely irrationally, having a fit of rage, that is unjustifiable by the fact that he was being held down, which is obviously upsetting, and more so, is very drunk. The patient is a brute, and is not simply acting like a brute, because he acted out without any reason or cause, without being a response to anything. Though the doctor did some things that could be considered "brute-like", the fact that they were simply responses to the behavior of the patient maeks the patient the stronger brute character.